Name: Smoked aubergine and pepper salad with pomegranate molasses
Total time: 1 h
Yield: Serves 6
Cuisine: Persian
Ingredients: 4 large aubergine; 3 large red pepper; a small bunch flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (hold some back for the garnish; 2 cloves garlic, crushed; 6 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 lemon, juiced; a pinch ground cinnamon; 75ml pomegranate molasses; 100g pomegranate seeds

Easy aubergine salad with pomegranate molasses

4 large aubergine
3 large red pepper
a small bunch flat-leaf parsley
roughly chopped (hold some back for the garnish
2 cloves garlic
crushed
6 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lemon
juiced
a pinch ground cinnamon
75ml pomegranate molasses
100g pomegranate seeds

Method

step 1
Blister and char the skins of the aubergines and peppers either on a BBQ, under the grill or on the hob, until they crisp and are completely charred. This will take about 20 minutes under a hot grill.
step 2
Once done, put the aubergines on to a heatproof surface or tray and allow to cool for about 20 minutes until they’re just warm and you’re able to handle them.
step 3
Put the peppers into a plastic bag and close with a tie allowing them to sweat for about 20 minutes. Once done, the blackened, charred skin should slide easily off the peppers until you’re left with just the roasted flesh. Remove and discard the seeds and stalk, roughly chop the peppers and put into a bowl.
step 4
Using a large metal spoon, scoop out the flesh of the aubergines and drain off any juice, discarding the charred skin. Chop the flesh into smallish chunks, put in the pepper bowl and mix gently.
step 5
Add the parsley, crushed garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, cinnamon and salt and pepper and give all the ingredients a good mix until they’re evenly combined. Serve the aubergine on a wide, flat platter and spread it out. Drizzle generously with pomegranate molasses, scatter with the remaining parsley and finally the pomegranate seeds.